Tensions between the band grew during the production in 1970 of their first album, Hark! The Village Wait to the point where they never again worked together after its completion, but the music itself shows no signs of these difficulties. While having a rock sensibility there is a greater sense of the authentic folk tradition than even in the best of Fairport, and a particular beauty arising from the two pairs of voices. The Woods being replaced by admired folk stalwart Martin Carthy, with violinist Peter Knight to widen the musical textures, the group late in 1970 recorded their most admired record Please to see the King. Ten Man Mop followed in 1971, more accomplished but generally felt to be less exciting. The expensive gatefold sleeve swallowed the band's royalties, and was referred to as a tombstone, since Hutchings and Carthy then left, to pursue Hutchings' new vision of a specifically English strand of folk rock with The Albion Band, and Steeleye Mk 2 folded.
However the inclusion of the less celebrated and more rock orientated replacements Rick Kemp and Bob Johnson led to the most commercially successful phase in the band's existence, vocalist Maddy Prior becoming the primary focus of the band, and a run of well received albums, from Below the Salt and Now we Are Six, their first with drummer Nigel Pegrum, to their eighth, and most commercially successful, All Around my Hat, in 1975.
Still active, they have a claim to be one of the longest-lived and perhaps the most commercially successful of all the folk rock bands of the era, thanks to their hit singles Gaudete and All Around My Hat, 3 top 40 albums and even a certified "gold" record with All Around My Hat.
Tim Hart died of lung cancer on 24 December 2009, aged 61.
Sheepcrook And Blackdog
Steeleye Span Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I give it to you
Here's my bag and my budget
I bid it adieu
Here's my sheep-crook and my black dog
I leave them behind
Fine laurel, fine floral
You've proved all unkind
All to my dear Dinah these words I did say
Tomorrow we'll be married love, tomorrow is the day
'Tis too soon dear Willy my age is too young
One day to our wedding is one day too soon
I'll go into service if the day ain't too late
To wait on a fine lady it is my intent
And when into service a your or two bound
It's then we'll get married and both settle down
A little time after a letter was wrote
For to see if my dear Dinah had changed her mind
But she wrote that she'd lived such a contrary life
She said that she'd never be a young shepherd's wife
The song "Sheepcrook and Blackdog" by Steeleye Span is a story of unrequited love and the struggle to move on from it. The singer begins the song by giving away everything he owns, including his sheep-crook and black dog, as a symbol of leaving behind his old life and the painful love he once had. He then speaks to his love interest Dinah, expressing his desire to marry her the next day. However, Dinah realizes that she is not ready for such a commitment and turns him down.
The singer then decides to go into service, hoping to better himself and perhaps win Dinah's heart in the future. He sends Dinah a letter to see if she has changed her mind, but receives a message in return stating that she has lived a "contrary life" and does not want to marry a young shepherd like him. The song ends on a heartbreaking note, with the singer realizing that he must let go of his love for Dinah and move on.
Line by Line Meaning
Here's my sheep-crook and my black dog
I am leaving behind all that I have known, including my trusty sheepdog and shepherd's crook.
I give it to you
I am passing on my duties and responsibilities to you, whoever you may be.
Here's my bag and my budget
I am leaving behind my possessions and the little money I have saved.
I bid it adieu
I say farewell to my old way of life and my material possessions.
I leave them behind
I am abandoning my former life to start anew, leaving everything behind.
Fine laurel, fine floral
Although I had hoped for the best and admired this place, it has been cruel to me.
You've proved all unkind
This place has not welcomed me or allowed me to live a good life here.
All to my dear Dinah these words I did say
I shared my feelings and my hopes for the future with my beloved, Dinah.
Tomorrow we'll be married love, tomorrow is the day
I wanted to marry Dinah immediately, but she was hesitant.
'Tis too soon dear Willy my age is too young
She didn't want to marry immediately, as she felt she was too young for such a commitment.
One day to our wedding is one day too soon
She needed more time to contemplate and prepare for our future life together.
I'll go into service if the day ain't too late
I am willing to work in a different profession if I can't make a living as a shepherd.
To wait on a fine lady it is my intent
I intend to work as a servant for a wealthy woman.
And when into service a your or two bound
Once I have established myself in this new role for a year or two,
It's then we'll get married and both settle down
Dinah and I will then be ready to marry and start our new life together.
A little time after a letter was wrote
I received a letter from Dinah after some time had passed.
For to see if my dear Dinah had changed her mind
I hoped to learn if she had changed her mind about marrying me.
But she wrote that she'd lived such a contrary life
However, Dinah wrote that she had decided to pursue a different path in life than marrying a shepherd.
She said that she'd never be a young shepherd's wife
Dinah explained that she was not interested in marrying a shepherd and that our relationship was over.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ben - Moderator
on Bonny Moorhen
Hi Stuart, We have corrected the description above.
Stuart Tartan
on Bonny Moorhen
This description of the song completely misses the point in every way. It IS NOT about a bird.
It is an allegorical Jacobite-era song about Bonny Prince Charlie (the bonny moorhen). The colours mentioned, for instance, are the colours of the Clan Stuart tartan.